The gardens at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library have evolved in three phases. One of the early garden restoration projects of  The Garden Club of Virginia, the gardens were designed in 1933 by Richmond landscape architect Charles F. Gillette. 

      

   

A Victorian restoration, suitable to the 1846 construction date of the house, the gardens included two terraces, the lower one featuring boxwood-lined bowknot beds, the only bowknot garden that Gillette created.



    

The gardens were expanded to include a brick terrace designed by landscape architect Ralph E. Griswold in 1967-68. 

             

In 1990, Rudy J. Favretti designed a forecourt and lawn around the new Woodrow Wilson Museum and added garden walkways connecting the Museum and the rest of the grounds.

    

The restoration gardens do not reflect the appearance of the lot on which Woodrow Wilson's birthplace was built in the 1840's. Presumably, when Wilson was born here in 1856, the "yard" included necessary outbuildings and functional plantings.

          

In 2008, the Garden Club of Virginia brought new life back to the garden by rebuilding perimeter fencing, planting new boxwoods, lilacs, hostas and perennials.

   

                        

From Spring to Autumn, an assortment of beautiful annuals can be found adorning the grounds of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and historic gardens.

     
                 
                Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Birthplace 
                                  Garden Restoration Chronology

                  

 

1934

Garden

Landscape Architect: Charles F. Gillette

 

1960

Brick Paths

Landscape Architect: Charles F. Gillette

 

1968

Terraces

Landscape Architect: Ralph E. Griswold

 

1992

Visitor Center Forecourt, Walk to Visitor Center

Landscape Architect: Rudy J. Favretti

 

1999

Reconstruction of summerhouses

Landscape Architect: William D. Rieley